10 Top Ways to Make Your Life Green

No one is small enough to make a difference. When it comes to protecting the planet, each and every individual matter. Being green is not only good for the environment, but it also helps in saving money and safeguarding our health. We can do a lot of ‘green’ things in our daily lives to reduce waste generation, clean the air, conserve natural resources, save energy and protect wildlife. Here are 10 top ways to make your life green, and thus becoming good environmental stewards for the Earth:

1. Turn Down the Heat

Reducing domestic energy consumption can help in minimizing environmental footprint, besides cutting down your expenses on the electricity bill. During winter, simple measures like setting the thermostat of the water heater at a lower temperature and insulating the hot and cold water pipes will significantly reduce heat loss.

A cheap and effective method is to wrap insulating blankets around the water heater in order to reduce heat loss. Washing your clothes in cold water, instead of hot water, will also have a positive impact on your energy bills. Read this article to know how to wash your car in an environmentally-friendly manner.

2. Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle

It is always worthwhile to buy products that can be reused or repurposed. Try to get rid of unwanted items by repurposing or donating, rather than sending them to landfills. Your old clothes, furniture, appliances, utensils, and stationery can be put to a good alternative use. Organize a garage sale or a donation drive so that the unwanted items can be used by someone else.

3. Avoid Paper

Avoid the use of paper, as much as possible. And if you can’t avoid paper at home or at your workplace, try to use recycled paper as it will not only help to reduce the deforestation of Earth but also decrease the amount of paper waste going to landfills. Make it a habit to pay your bills online, use recycled paper, and use cotton napkins and towels instead of paper towels.

4. Unplug Electronics

Unplug your electronic gadgets before you go to bed and avoid charging electronic devices endlessly. Electronic items consume power even when they are turned off if they are plugged in, so you need to switch off the power switch from where they are plugged in. This will a significant impact on your electricity bills by preventing power wastage from standby-mode devices.

5. Home-based Water Filtration

There is nothing like the convenience of fresh clean healthy water right at your tap in your home. A home-based water filtration device will provide clean water for drinking, washing and all kinds of hygienic uses. A million plastic water bottles are bought around the world every minute, with less than 20% of them being recycled. Instead of using bottled water, save resources and money by drinking from your own home filtration system with a reusable water bottle.

6. Eat Local, Organic Foods

The food industry has a huge carbon footprint as most of our meals travel long distances before they reach our plates. More and more people want to eat organic nowadays and it is actually becoming the norm in many parts of the world. Eating local, organic foods will help you to avoid processed and chemical-laden foods, and thus ensure a healthy lifestyle.

7. Green Your Personal Care

There is a good scope to go green in personal care. Use a minimal amount of water during bathing, use green hygiene products and avoid chemical-laden soaps and shampoos. Do remember that healthy food leads to healthy skin and body.

8. Raise Eco-Conscious Children

Make your children environmentally smart. It involves an element of education and leading by example, and the end result will be a better planet for them to grow up in. A great way to start is to get out and about and explore and experience nature.

Another interesting idea is to involve your children in choosing which items they think need to be recycled when you are clearing up in the kitchen and around the house. It will make them feel that they are making an active contribution.

9. Support Eco-friendly Businesses

Eco-friendly small businesses are coming up all over the world, helping to benefit local communities in more ways than one. The benefits of buying locally are generally far greater than what you’d get from buying at large shopping malls. Small businesses are more likely to support other businesses within the community, care for their environment, and conduct business in an environmentally-responsible way.

10. Go Solar

Solar panels are a great way to reduce energy costs, minimize the carbon footprint impact of your home and decreasing your dependence on the grid. Many homeowners in USA choose ZenSolar to finance their solar panels with one of the “pay-as-you-go” financing options. This means that a third-party company – the solar provider – owns the solar system and takes care of installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repairs.

Bottom Line

These are a few simple tips that anyone can follow and make a meaningful contribution towards the global environmental movement. Your green lifestyle may not mitigate climate change overnight, but collectively, green living can ensure a sustainable and greener future for the entire humanity.